Beat The Odds, Beat The Stereotype

In the age of video games and a dominating virtual space, it is quite extraordinary when youngsters begin to think of their physical health and well being. Akshat was quite different from most people his age when he began to train and build his physique

Being an ardent lover of sports like basketball, Akshat always believed in staying fit and healthy. He was constantly motivated by greats like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman who are known for their intense training and sculpted bodies. But, his journey to the perfect physique was not an easy one.

In a small town like Ajmer where he hails from, going to the gym or seeking these physical goals is normally not what is expected of a 13 year old. Needless to say, Akshat faced a lot of criticism for wavering from the regular goals set for a boy his age. He was relentless and started working out anyway. With the posters of Dorian Yates, Jay Cutler, Arnold Schwarzennegar and Ronnie Coleman looking over him, he decided that he would, one day, look like them.

Now that was not an easy goal either. Being from a small town, he did not have access to a lot of information or even facilities that one needs for a transformation as massive as the one he hoped for. That did not stand in his way either. He joined a regular old school gym and began to train. The next step was to learn about fitness and the right techniques to get in shape. He purchased books and read up as much as he could to understand how to work on himself to achieve the goals that he dreamt of. Once he started, his journey was not as easy as it seemed.

Akshat belongs to a body type that is known as a hard gainer in the world of bodybuilding. These individuals have extremely high metabolic rates, which makes it difficult for them to gain weight and bulk up. The diet plan needs to be rigorous and the training must be extremely intense in order for them to begin to see a change. He was willing to go the extra mile. He was quite the determined young man even at the age of 13.

This was followed by a massive injury that would throw anyone off track quite easily. But, the only thing that he knew was that he wanted to be like his idols. There was no challenge that was too big to hold him back.

Today, he has a fully structured routine that keeps him in the best possible shape. And, it is his focus and determination that makes his story so inspiring. If you have been trying hard to gain mass and build volume, Akshat’s story is all the inspiration that you will need. No matter how many odds you have against you, all you need is some motivation and the willingness to give it your all when you are in the world of bodybuilding.

Your fitness journey will be full of obstacles but overcoming them will make the results even more worthwhile. Here is Akshat’s amazing transformation story, his own struggles, and his advice to anyone who is looking at pushing themselves to achieve more with each training session.

What motivated you to start training and pursue bodybuilding?

I was always into sports and physical activity. I loved playing basketball particularly. But there was something that always bothered me. My body was extremely skinny and I was always underweight. It also hindered my performance in basketball. The first thing that motivated me to take up training was to get better at basketball and become stronger. So, I decided to join the gym when I was 13. That was not well received by my family and other people in Ajmer, where I hail from. There were many misconceptions and people actually believed that this was not a healthy choice.

But I had a goal in mind. I wanted to be like Arnold Shcwarzennegar, Dorian Yates, Jay Cutler, Ronnie Coleman and other Mr.Olympia champions. For me, it was about looking stronger and to look like these men.

To learn more about fitness, I picked up Arnold Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding. It changed my life completely. I had found the industry that I wanted to be in. I wanted to make a mark in the world of bodybuilding and fitness.

How was your general lifestyle and diet before you began to train seriously?

Before I started training, my lifestyle was very normal. I did not have particularly great habits and did not make the best choices in food. I used to have three meals a day like everyone. I had no idea about what was good for me and what was bad. It was only after I started training that I began to focus on my diet and it is still one of the most important aspects of my training schedule.

What does a typical day at the gym look like?

I normally work on one muscle each day and focus on training my core. My training does not involve too much cardio. So, if I have to breakdown my training program, this would be the typical flow:

I ensure that I get to rest on Saturdays and Sundays. I believe that one of the most important aspects of achieving the results that you want is giving your body the time to recover. Only then will you be able to consistently push yourself to do better.

What is the diet plan that you follow?

My diet plan includes 5 meals a day. Eating frequently helps me get the calories that I need because I am an ectomorph or a hard gainer. I need to ensure that I consume a high-calorie diet to sustain my physique.

To begin with I make sure that I get at least 25-30 grams of protein in every meal that I consume. I cycle my carbs based on the workout routine. I also make sure that I get 90-110 grams of fat each day to keep my body in the gaining mode.

Can you take us through some of the biggest challenges that you faced?

Like I said before, I was faced with a lot of criticism when I first started training. I did not have the knowledge or the facilities that I needed in order to train the way I wished to. That was not really the biggest challenge that I faced. It was three years ago when I had compression fracture in my spine that I felt all my dreams just shattering. I was asked to stay on the bed for a good 4-5 months.

However, in my mind I always knew that I was not going to stop. I was even more determined to make a stronger come back. I became very serious about fitness and my life in general after that accident. When everyone told me that I could not workout anymore, I was just determined to push harder.

Do you have any advice for others who are working on their own individual fitness journeys?

Being consistent is the only way to achieve what you dream of. You should also be careful about the products that you invest in. Look for authentic supplements and follow a good diet. Remember, if your mind believes it, your body achieves it.

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